Irma la Douce (1963)
Genre: Comedy / Romance
Duration: 147 minuten
Country:
United States
Directed by: Billy Wilder
Stars: Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine and Lou Jacobi
IMDb score:
7,3 (24.656)
Releasedate: 5 June 1963
Irma la Douce plot
"A story of passion, bloodshed, desire and death... everything, in fact, that makes life worth living."
Naive French police officer Nester Patou is transferred to a red light district. After he sees what is going on, he calls the station to organize a raid, in order to throw all the ladies in the bin. However, this leads to a disruption of the well-organized system that the police and the pimps have. Nester is fired, gets drunk at a bar, befriends Irma and beats up her pimp, which results in him becoming her new pimp. Nester doesn't like that Irma has to go to other men, and comes up with a plan.
Actors and actresses
Irma La Douce
Nestor Patou
Moustache
Hippolyte
Inspector Lefevre
Lolita
Amazon Annie
Kiki
Andre
Concierge
Reviews & comments
Mescaline
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- 7125 messages
- 3521 votes
Now that I'm (re)watching some Wilder films again, I also picked up this film. Jack Lemmon is one of my favorite actors anyway and together with Shirley MacLaine it is quite interesting. 
The first thing I noticed about this film is the colorful and very atmospheric setting, I was immersed in the story from the first images.
Jack lemmon actually never disappoints and neither here, the joy of playing is splashing and he fits his role perfectly. Shirley MacLaine also plays her role more than fine, although I read that she herself was not very pleased with the role she had to play here. 
Of course it is also a bit different from her role a few years earlier in The Apartment.
Irma la Douce can be very bland and slapstick at times but without it irritating me, the 2 hours and 20 minutes flew by very quickly! The first half is perhaps a bit stronger than the second half, but Billy Wilder manages to make it a very pleasant whole.
3.5 stars which is close to a 4.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Fisico
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- 10039 messages
- 5398 votes
Very fine Wilder, but not as high-quality as the other top work I've seen by him. This is rather a jolly light-hearted film with a Jack Lemmon who always does very well. Still one of my favorite actors from the past.
Wilder takes a look at the prostitution environment in the streets of Paris with a headstrong vision. The neighborhood is tolerated from above, not in the least because people sometimes pee next to the potty. However, this is a thorn in the side for a meticulous Nestor and he wouldn't think it better to arrest the entire red light district for lewd behavior on his first day.
The plot is fun where he falls in love with the prostitute Irma and actually becomes her pimp herself. The film seeks a balance between some violent heavy moments on the one hand and a kind of slapstick content on the other. It is especially the latter that suits Lemmon better.
As befits a film from the 60s, suggestive nude instead of visual nude. One does not get further than a naked back, but that too was apparently a bridge too far for prudish America at the time. Nice movie already!
Translated from Dutch · View original
Film Pegasus (moderator films)
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- 31491 messages
- 5627 votes
What a wonderful movie! You clearly notice the stamp of Billy Wilder and the original story is a French musical that had its premiere in Paris. Of course it is somewhat viewed with the Hollywood glasses, but that is allowed here. The film is carried by Jack Lemmon and the fantastic Shirley MacLaine. Lou Jacobi plays a René van de Café from Allo Allo avant la lettre. Normally Marilyn Monroe would have played the part of Irma la Douce. She would undoubtedly have done well with her comedic talent, but Shirley MacLaine (who received an Oscar nomination for it) is difficult to replace in the title role.
The film is never a roar, but you sit with a good feeling all the time. Great story and beautiful colorful setting. The cinematography also deservedly received an Oscar nomination. A somewhat atypical romcom that at the same time embraces the clichés. Nice to see!
Translated from Dutch · View original
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